SportIQ Launches Spalding Smart Basketball

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA and HELSINKI, FINLAND (May 12, 2026) – SportIQ, a provider of smart basketballs and in-app shooting coaching, launched a new Spalding Smart Basketball built on Spalding’s TF-1000 indoor game ball platform. The new ball combines the feel and performance of the TF-1000 with SportIQ’s patented embedded sensor technology. Through a connected mobile app, players get real-time shooting analytics as well as AI-powered coaching without changing how the game is played.

The TF-1000 platform is already used in approximately 40% of competitive basketball games in the United States and serves as the official high school game ball in 19 states, including New York and Texas, as well as multiple professional leagues globally, according to Spalding. Now, the same premium game ball trusted by serious players is becoming smart.

The new Spalding Smart Basketball tracks every shot through an invisible sensor integrated directly into the ball, preserving the authentic bounce, weight and feel players expect from a premium indoor basketball. The hardware has been tested to the highest levels of play to ensure elite performance and durability. The connected app analyzes shooting data in real time and gives players personalized feedback on shot arc, release angle, consistency, and mechanics. Gamification and challenges make training more engaging while helping players improve faster.

“This launch is about letting players train with the same ball they play with, now with all the benefits of a connected basketball. Serious players care about feel, performance, and consistency, so bringing our technology into the TF-1000 platform was an important step. We wanted to give players the data, feedback, and coaching benefits of a smart ball without compromising the experience of using a premium game ball,” said Erik Anderson, CEO of SportIQ.

SportIQ’s technology has already tracked more than 40 million basketball shots globally and is currently used by players of all ages and skill levels, including NBA shooting coaches and competitive youth athletes, Spalding said. In 2025, the company was selected for the NBA Launchpad accelerator program, where its technology is being explored for future use cases related to officiating, analytics, and fan engagement.

The launch also follows growing recognition for connected basketball technology globally with the Spalding Smart Basketball recently recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2025.

“Our vision is to make every ball smart, but it starts with products that players genuinely love using. Basketball players spend thousands of hours practicing, and we believe technology should make that process more rewarding, motivating, and accessible for everyone, whether you’re training for professional competition or simply trying to become the best player at your local court,” Anderson said.

For more information and to purchase the ball, visit smartbasketball.spalding.com.